Custody escapes to draw ATA cases

CPO warns of strict action, issues guidelines on prisoner security, court appearances

RAWALPINDI:

Punjab police authorities have expressed concern over incidents of suspects escaping from police custody, prompting Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Hassan Mushtaq Sukhera to issue detailed guidelines to the district police.

The CPO warned that officers and personnel found responsible for future custody escapes could face cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act, with no departmental leniency. He also made it clear that bribery would not be tolerated and urged police personnel to avoid activities that could bring disgrace to themselves, their families or the force.

He issued the directives while presiding over a meeting at Police Lines Headquarters. The meeting was attended by SSP Operations Malik Tariq Mehboob, SSP Investigation Saifullah, divisional SPs, SDPOs, SHOs, police station muharrars, personnel deployed at Adiala jail lock-ups, district and tehsil courts, and in charge officers of the district and tehsil court lock-ups, among others.

CPO Sukhera said the escape of any suspect or prisoner from police custody would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Those responsible would face strict action under relevant provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act, without any departmental concession.

He directed that illegal detention at police stations and lock-ups would also not be tolerated. Any officer responsible for producing a suspect before a court would have to personally present the suspect. No officer would be allowed to produce another officer's suspect in court.

If an officer failed to personally produce a suspect, the station muharrar would not send the suspect to the district courts through another official. Instead, the muharrar would immediately inform the SSP Operations.

The CPO directed that all police rules and standard operating procedures must be strictly followed whenever a suspect is taken out of a station lock-up. Suspects must be properly handcuffed, while the use of ropes, iron chains or similar restraints would not be permitted.

The station muharrar would be responsible for arranging the required personnel. If there was a shortage, the matter would immediately be brought to the notice of senior officers, and additional personnel could be requisitioned from Police Lines or the relevant police circle.

A separate constable would be assigned to accompany the handcuffed suspect, while armed police personnel would be deployed separately.